In a perfect utopian world, our own two feet could take us anywhere we wished within our neighborhoods and cities. 

Sure, cars can be useful, but in this hypothetical world, we would not be as dependent as we are now. 

As a product of suburban Minnesota, much of what I have known has been the opposite. Almost anywhere I went was by car. When I turned 16, learning to drive became a necessity to achieve any kind of independence. 

The car-centric norms of my suburban childhood were not a fluke nor an isolated experience. Reliance on cars has been entrenched in American life for almost a century now. 

Following the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented several New Deal government initiatives to combat foreclosure rates and stimulate American homeownership. Programs like the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) offered opportunities for Americans to own affordable homes on city outskirts or in newer and less dense suburban developments. 

As people began to spread out, walking became less practical and in turn, less prioritized. 

This trend continued into the post-World War II era when suburban migration grew. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, which invested in the Interstate Highway System and connected suburban areas to urban job opportunities. 

As long as you still had the means to get to work, with more space and affordable living, the suburbs were an ideal place to be — or so it seemed.

With the rise of suburbia, walkability became an afterthought. Automobiles took precedence over pedestrians or public transportation. 

Our car-centric infrastructure has already been built and retrofitting it to prioritize walkability is challenging. 

When I came to college, the University of Minnesota campus was a pleasant change of pace. Quite literally. 

On and in the area surrounding campus, walking was sufficient enough to get me to where I needed to go, whether that was class, out to eat or to hang out with friends. 

Tye Hiltunen, a second-year student, said campus walkability is different from Virginia, Minnesota, where he grew up. 

“My hometown is super car-centric and not at all walkable,” Hiltunen said. “What’s great about being on campus is that I don’t have to drive to parking lots to hang out and talk with my friends.” 

Hiltunen said college campuses like the University are a prime example of optimal walkability. 

“I think universities as a whole should be kind of seen as a model for walkable cities,” Hiltunen said. “We have a lot of natural open spaces. We have places to meet up with people. It’s really easy to get around. There’s a lot of paths and areas that are only for pedestrians too.” 

As a student without a car, walkability is largely about convenience. But this is not the only benefit that walkable cities can provide. 

Shirley Shiqin Liu, a researcher at the Center for Transportation Studies, said walkable cities also have environmental, public health and social benefits. 

“Walking is probably the most eco-friendly mode of transportation,” Liu said. “It reduces greenhouse gasses, it reduces vehicle emissions and mileage and decreases traffic congestion as well.”

Liu said walking can allow commuters to combine their trips to work and daily exercise activities into one. 

“It’s the cheapest way to exercise,” Liu said. “There has been research that has found a link between better walkability and reduced obesity rates and improved mental health and well-being.”

Choosing to walk can be a healthier one, but it isn’t a choice everyone has the freedom to make. 

“In the U.S., people who are likely to commute to work by walking are typically young people or people from lower-income communities or minority populations,” Liu said. “Walkable cities also help promote access to different economic opportunities across demographics.” 

Walkable cities are more equitable cities. 

According to Access Across America: Walk 2022, a report published by the Center for Transportation Studies and co-authored by Liu, the Minneapolis metropolitan area ranks 16th across the U.S. in commuting accessibility. 

While Minneapolis ranks comparatively high on the walkability scale, many residents will tell you there are still a ways to go. 

“When it comes to Minneapolis outside of campus, it kind of feels like you need a car to survive,” Hiltunen said. “We have decent public transportation but there is still a lot of room for improvement.”

The walkability of communities goes beyond mere convenience or cost-effectiveness. While creating sprawling neighborhoods away from city centers may have been economically optimal at one point, our transportation infrastructure has not kept up. 

As a result, owning a car is a necessity for many Americans, though not always affordable. 

While a walkable world is not achieved overnight, it must be a transition we make. This will require greater investment in public transportation and expanding sidewalks across all regions. 

We must learn to prioritize pedestrians, one step at a time.

Long before social media hashtags, the #MeToo movement was founded in 2006 by activist and youth worker Tarana Burke. Burke was inspired by her work in dealing with child survivors of sexual violence and created a foundation to provide resources and support to these populations. 

More than a decade later, what began as a grassroots movement went viral. On Oct. 15, 2017, in a since-deleted post on X, actress Alyssa Milano wrote “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.”

Soon enough, the #MeToo hashtag took off, with thousands of survivors sharing their experiences of sexual harassment and violence to raise awareness and stand in solidarity with one another. 

Aysa Tarana, a third-year student at the University of Minnesota, said she remembers experiencing the viral moment in middle school. 

“I remember kids were talking about it in school,” Tarana said. “I was young, but I thought that it was very empowering, and it made me feel a lot safer with my community of girls at school.”

Milano’s post came in response to the longstanding sexual harassment allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein that came to light several days before in an article published by The New York Times. 

It has been 18 years since the movement’s inception and seven years since it became a viral hashtag. This begs the question — where has it gone since? 

Specifically, where is it in 2024? 

President-elect Donald Trump was president during the rise of #MeToo in 2017 and in 2023 was found liable in a civil trial for sexually abusing journalist E. Jean Carroll. Despite this, Trump was reelected in November. 

Several of Trump’s recent cabinet selections have been accused of sexual misconduct themselves, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Elon Musk and Pete Hegseth. 

Harvey Weinstein, one of the initial catalysts of the movement’s virality in 2017, recently had his 2020 sex crimes conviction overturned on the basis that his initial trial was unjust. 

This year, comedian Louis C.K. launched his Netflix comeback after being ousted from the platform in 2017 because of sexual misconduct. In the last two years, C.K. went on tour and released comedy albums. He also won a Grammy for his 2020 comedy album, “Sincerely Louis CK.”

Optically, in 2024, it could be said the movement has not stood. 

However, these optics should not be the sole measure of the movement’s success. 

Jasmine Christianson, a third-year student, said she still considers the #MeToo movement to be successful despite the headlines. 

“I think it has been successful, but the impact can be measured in different ways,” Christianson said. “Since the movement started, people have opened their eyes a little more and actually understood what has happened to victims.” 

While these 2024 headlines may be discouraging, it is important to remember the difference between systemic and societal change. 

Despite his adjudication, Trump was still elected into office. Despite the allegations against them, R.F.K. Jr., Musk and Hegseth have all been nominated to Trump’s cabinet. Despite admitting to sexual misconduct, Louis C.K. has still found renewed success in the comedy industry. 

In spite of these recent events, the movement has arguably transformed our public discourse. The core impact does not lie within headlines. 

On the state level, in the years following 2017, bills introduced and passed related to workplace sexual misconduct and women’s rights increased dramatically. 

After the hashtag went viral, the number of sex crimes reported worldwide increased. 

The movement created a space for victims to share and push for change. 

“If even one woman feels empowered to speak up against her aggressor, and that makes a difference for her, I think it makes it successful,” Tarana said. 

Jenna Monday, a fourth-year student and the University’s Undergraduate Student Government Public Health and Sexual Assault Prevention Specialized Committee director, said the movement has naturally influenced the committee’s work. 

“In general, women and people of the LGBTQ+ community are the ones who are predominantly affected by the issues that the #MeToo movement stands for,” Monday said. “Though sexual assault prevention is something that every student needs on this campus, our committee definitely is more geared towards female and non-male students, like the movement itself.” 

As with many social movements, change doesn’t happen overnight, in a single election cycle or from a viral moment. Change is often non-linear, it unfolds over generations. 

The #MeToo movement was created to disrupt the status quo. Its success cannot be measured within the confines of legal and political structures that it attempts to dismantle. 

The movement gave and continues to give so many victims something that could never be quantified — a sense of solidarity. 

The path to justice may be uneven, but solidarity will remain.

It is officially December, meaning we have unofficially entered our winter months. Between single-digit or subzero temperatures, slim amounts of daylight, and icy sidewalks, it can feel like there is little to celebrate during our coldest season. 

Winter is often associated with a sense of dread and hardship, and often for good reason. Our bodies crave sunlight and warmth, and in winter we have the least amount of that. 

Spring flowers are far away and none of our obligations seem to let up. In fact, with finals, end-of-the-year deadlines and family commitments, they seem even more amplified. 

Even the phrase “winter is coming” from the popular HBO show “Game of Thrones” has become a modern-day metaphor for preparing for the worst or hunkering down for what is to come.  

However, it doesn’t have to be this way. The longer nights and lower temperatures can allow us to slow down. To live life at a quieter pace. 

Slowing down can seem counterintuitive. Productivity feels like the only measure of our worth, and we are often rewarded for how much we seem to get done. The world doesn’t stop just because it is cold. 

But, looking around during the winter, the earth itself can give us some cues.

Plants become dormant, leaves fall off branches and animals enter hibernation periods. All around us, nature seems to move slower and conserve energy — taking time to be still. We might as well learn to participate. Hibernation doesn’t just have to be for the bears. 

Ellie Reuter, a first-year student at the University of Minnesota, said she usually gets more rest in winter. 

“I generally get more tired because the sun goes down earlier, but I also get more sleep,” Reuter said. “I go to bed a lot earlier which is good.” 

The slowness of winter is not just about rest. It can also be about intentionality.

Winter carries an aura of bareness. Bare branches and barren ground. But this is an opportunity for us to focus on the things that matter most and to be more mindful of our time. 

One example of this is the Scandinavian term “hygge,” which can be loosely defined as a time to slow down and be cozy with loved ones or community members. Hygge can be felt anytime but is especially relevant in the winter months.

Scandinavian countries have some of the happiest populations in the world as well as some of the harshest winters, so maybe this idea is something we can all employ. 

Winter allows us to focus on some of our simple pleasures — a cup of hot chocolate or cider, the crunch of fresh snow, the glow of holiday lights or even the ability to take an afternoon nap without the guilt or fear of missing out on things. 

The moments that are often overlooked otherwise can bring us so much joy. Just because winter is still doesn’t mean it can’t be full of life. Maybe just in a quieter way.

If nothing else, winter gives us time and space to be cozy. 

As the temperatures continue to drop and the days continue to shorten, maybe we can instead look at these winter months as a time to enjoy, as opposed to a time to endure. Whether through hygge or hibernation, the winter season can be a gift. 

It is a time to rest and recharge. A time to hold on to the little joys and forget what the fear of missing out feels like for a few months. A time to reconnect with our communities, but also ourselves.

Despite the harshness of the season, perhaps we can be more gentle with ourselves. 

Even in the cold, we can still create our own warmth.

This time of year, the air feels heavier. Midterms and deadlines are piling up, the temperature is dropping and it is getting dark earlier and earlier. 

This year particularly, November was marked with one of the most historic political events of our generation, the 2024 presidential election — an election many of us felt our future depended on. 

In the wake of all of those things, hope and connection can feel hard to come by. 

It feels like the easiest thing to do right now is to isolate ourselves into hibernation for these winter months, one of the hardest seasons yet. 

However, we need to lean into those around us now more than ever. 

Whether sharing a meal with friends, attending a student-run event, going to a coffee shop instead of staying home to study, having a conversation in class with someone you haven’t spoken to yet, or extending a friendly wave and smile to those we walk past on the sidewalk. 

Community is all around us, and sometimes it is up to us to seek it out.

Tessa Lundheim, a fourth-year University of Minnesota student and member of the UMN Ballroom Dance Club, said the club is one way she finds community and connection in winter months. 

“It is a great way to make friends and learn a really cool skill,” Lundheim said. “But also, it just brings people together indoors for a social event. So in the winter, it is really nice.” 

Lundheim said the club is currently holding a bake sale, and she sees these types of fundraisers as another way to engage with the community. 

“It’s just about doing something small to make a club or event accessible to more people,” Lundheim said. “You can connect with people, but also, it is a great opportunity to give back.”

Since the pandemic, boundary culture has taken off across social media platforms, and in turn, in our relationships. 

In a time where the majority of our social interactions had to take place virtually, we began to move away from being open to showing up for each other as much in both the literal and figurative sense. 

With all the time alone, we prioritized setting boundaries and self-care. With that came the prioritization of individualism as well. 

Favors like picking up our friends from the airport or helping each other move became too much to ask for because of the inconvenience they may cause. 

Setting boundaries for ourselves isn’t inherently bad. 

To set a boundary is an attempt to take care of yourself. They are necessary for the health and longevity of any relationship. Sometimes, however, these boundaries can create more space between us than intended. 

Friendships and relationships should not rely on convenience alone. We are supposed to help each other out, even when it isn’t always optimal or reciprocated exactly. 

Relationships should not be purely transactional. 

Taking care of ourselves does not have to mean doing things only for ourselves. Showing up and putting effort into those around us can be a form of self-care as well. 

Eva Smith, a first-year student, said during this time of year she makes an effort to do more with friends. 

“I make sure I am still going to all my clubs and other events during winter,” Smith said. “It makes me feel better to consistently go to things. I also try to make more plans to eat meals with my friends regularly.”

Smith also said the recent election outcome has made this winter particularly difficult, but she has found ways to have hope as well. 

“We’ve been talking about a lot in some of my theater classes,” Smith said. “I’ve realized how people have gone through something like this before, and how people can use art as a way to still find community and express themselves.” 

Whether it is through art or conversation, we still have ways to connect in the hardest seasons. 

Finding community is not an effortless undertaking. Because we need each other, we need to show up for each other. This is how we sustain ourselves. 

For myself, despite the chill, I am going to bundle up and make an extra effort to help people out without expecting anything in return. To hold the door for those behind me, to buy things from bake sales and to say yes to plans whenever I can — even when I am tempted by the comfort of isolation. 

Right now, it can feel like we are all we have. For now, we are all we need. 

Hope still exists. We just have to cultivate it together.

Believe it or not, we all survived to the last week of November. Give yourself a pat on the back for that. 

In a month that featured both the 2024 presidential election and People Magazine’s annual Sexiest Man Alive competition, I am sure there is no shortage of controversial opinions floating around. Luckily, we soon have a forum in which we will be able to share them with our understanding extended family members. 

Thanksgiving week has finally arrived, and while many of us will finally have a reprieve from lectures and midterms, we may be soon faced with another type of challenge — interacting with our family over a shared meal. 

Here at the opinions desk, we recently conducted a seasonal poll to determine what the best and worst Thanksgiving foods are. Hopefully, our findings will give you enough material to avoid talking about anything else more contentious this Thursday. 

Twenty-five respondents weighed in with their best and worst Thanksgiving food opinions. To disclaim, we are aware that 25 people is not enough data to come to an official conclusion, but if you take issue with this, I would encourage you to complain less in this season of gratitude. 

Out of our 25 respondents, seven voted stuffing as their favorite. In response to the best food question, Anna Peyla, a former University of Minnesota student, answered, “Stuffing, because nothing beats moist bread.” 

Although stuffing was voted as the favorite in our poll, this was not a universally held opinion. It also received three votes for the worst Thanksgiving food. 

For the worst foods, Elizabeth Gust, a second-year student, also answered, “Stuffing; I would rather eat normal bread.” 

Perhaps this can be your Thanksgiving family conversation this year as opposed to something like, say, dwindling reproductive rights across the U.S.

Is stuffing the best or worst Thanksgiving food? Is bread better served normal or moist? The arguments practically write themselves. 

Cranberry-related accoutrements came in as a close runner-up to stuffing for the best food. 

Alec Nilson, a third-year graduate student, described cranberries as a “perfect combination of sweetness and bitterness.”

Similar to stuffing, cranberries also received votes for the worst food choice as well.

Joseph Madigan, a fourth-year student, said, “Cranberry sauce because it looks terrible.” 

However, the winner of the worst Thanksgiving food title is perhaps the most controversial of all. Coming in with six votes, we have the symbol of Thanksgiving itself, turkey. 

Despite being the traditional main course since the inception of the holiday itself, turkey seems to have hit record-low approval ratings, according to our polling. The incumbency advantage is truly dead. 

Ethan Cook, a fourth-year student, described turkey as, “bland no matter how you cook it,” and as  a “cardboard bird.” 

Whether you will be rejoicing in moist bread or avoiding the cardboard bird this week, hopefully, this poll offers you some scientific data to justify those choices. Personally, I am just here for the pie. 

On a whim, I picked the clarinet at the school music fair in fourth grade, and for the next eight years, I was a part of my school’s band programs.

In middle school, I stayed in band class so I wasn’t required to take another gym period. When I entered high school, it was so I could go on the band trip. 

Whether it was by choice or happenstance, my clarinet and I were together for almost half my life. 

Those first few years, it was just about making my sounds tolerable. Getting a solid note out of a clarinet is a combination of having the correct embouchure, finger positioning, breathing and reed strength. Even the three-note tune, “Hot Cross Buns,” was a nightmare to get through at first.

The thing about clarinets is that when you don’t get that right combination, they squeak — a lot. So when you make mistakes, you make them loud. 

I learned from those first few delicate years that perhaps loud mistakes aren’t so bad after all. When mistakes are loud, you can hear them, and when you can hear them, you can fix them. 

To be pushed from a young age to loudly mess up in front of your peers makes you more immune to doing it later on. 

Evelyn Beyer, a second-year student and baritone player in the University of Minnesota marching band, said being in band allowed her to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

“You’re getting into uncomfortable situations all the time,” Beyer said. “In band, there will be songs or parts where you have to stand out and stand on your own, and you have to be able to work through it.”

Beyer said being bad at something teaches you how to work at it.

“You can clearly hear when you mess something up,” Beyer said. “I had so many moments when I would hear myself and I would be like, ‘Oh, I have to work on that.’ I definitely spent a lot of time by myself trying to get better at things.” 

Rory Schaefer, a second-year student and flutist in the Maroon Band, one of the University’s athletic bands, said working at your instrument can give you confidence. 

“Band definitely plays into your confidence just because of the simple fact that it’s nice to be good at something,” Schaefer said. 

Sooner or later, my squeaking slowed down. And so did everyone else’s. Once we could hear over ourselves, we could all start to hear each other.

Clarinets usually sit at the front of the band, closest to the audience along with the flutes and other woodwinds. Often, clarinetists are given the melodies of songs, but, contrary to my original beliefs, that doesn’t mean they are any more important.

A whole is always greater than the sum of its parts, and in the case of a band, our sound together was always greater than any combination of our instruments individually. 

My melodies as a clarinetist would never sound as good without the French horns backing me up. As preteens and teens who had every reason to despise each other, we soon learned that we needed to rely on our classmates and peers to create anything worth listening to.

Not only did we have to work together, but we had to work together to create a piece of art. 

Schaefer said bands hinge on working as a unit. 

“It is a good way to be part of something that’s bigger than yourself,” Schaefer said. “You know that this song is something you’re participating in and that you quite literally matter. There are places where people depend on you and where you are needed.”

It is fun to be good at something individually, but usually, it is more fun to be good at something together. 

In band, I learned to make loud mistakes. I learned about community. I learned to be good at being bad at things and to be OK with not being the best at something. 

I learned how to get better. 

If you hear yourself squeak, you can figure out how to fix it. If you don’t ever attempt the music, you’ll never know what you can make of it.

Like many early 2000s kids, I was often told that snacking between meals was frowned upon growing up. 

We were to eat during our allotted three meals a day, and anything other than this was considered improper. Sure, in kindergarten some afternoon apple slices were fine, but after the age of six or so, snacking was a no-go. 

Compared to now, adults and kids snack in almost every setting. Movie theaters, workplaces, classrooms, libraries. So many of our buildings on the University of Minnesota campus are equipped with vending machines with a whole snack assortment. Snacks are everywhere. 

For myself, it can be easier to eat a series of snacks throughout the day than to make time for three sit-down meals. 

Dani Ponce Rodriguez, a first-year student at the University, said she sees snacks as more suitable for the life of a student. 

“I feel like with school and everything else we are doing, it’s hard to fit in time for full meals in a day,” Ponce Rodriguez said. “We’re too busy studying and going to class.”

When and how did snacking become the norm instead?

The American three-meals-a-day routine first emerged with the Industrial Revolution. Up until the 19th century, many Americans would eat two larger meals a day. The second was closer to a dinner but took place in the late afternoon. 

With the Industrial Revolution, many people were at work or school for most of the day and not able to eat dinner until the end of the day. Needing some sustenance in between these two meals, lunch was born. 

This meal format stayed largely the same until the latter half of the 20th century. 

Product packaging began to improve throughout the early 1900s, making food a lot more shelf-stable. Microwaves were invented in 1946 and packaged food became much more convenient. 

During the Reagan administration of the 1980s, antitrust restrictions were heavily loosened, marking an era of mergers and consolidations among companies. This extended to grocery stores as well. What were once local grocery stores stocked with items from regional manufacturers turned into large supermarket chains with new packaged products from national companies. 

Snacks came to be placed right in front of us, and along with this, our lifestyles started to make them more of a necessity. 

Not only are snacks now more available, but they are apropos of the times we were living in. In the late 20th century, many women joined the workforce for the first time, leaving kids at home by themselves after school for extended periods. These kids came to be referred to as latchkey kids. 

For latchkey kids in the afternoon, what else was there to do but snack? 

Eventually, the latchkey kids of the 1970’s and 1980’s grew up. Soon enough, adults became big snackers too. 

Joanne Slavin, a professor and researcher in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University, said the rise of snacks had a lot to do with our need for convenience. 

“You had to always eat in a dining area, and it was only meals,” Slavin said. “And now that everything is available and convenient for snacking, people started doing it.”

Daphne Medel Hernandez, a first-year student, said snacks are more practical. 

“I pack snacks just because I’m sometimes running late or I know I won’t have time running between classes,” Medel Hernandez said. “It’s a lot easier than figuring out lunch.” 

Over time, snacks became much more accessible and in turn, popularized. But there continues to be this rhetoric around them not being a healthy habit. 

For Slavin, as a nutritionist, this is largely untrue. 

“People have asked, ‘Oh, is it bad to snack?’ and there really isn’t any specific data that says it is,” Slavin said. “It doesn’t always matter when exactly you eat, as long as you are picking things that have enough nutrients and protein.” 

As Slavin said, it is much more about what you eat than how often you eat. Snacking itself isn’t inherently bad. In fact, it has become more than necessary. 

Americans often work longer hours than other countries. Students have class and other extracurricular activities during meal times. We need to eat when we can. The traditional three-meal structure doesn’t fit our days anymore. 

So, whenever I whip out some pretzel sticks during my lectures or open a granola bar while studying in the library, I expect everyone around me to mind their business. 

Snacking allows us to individualize our food intake and have agency about when or where we can eat. America was founded on principles of freedom, and that should include freedom to snack.  

No eating schedule is better than another. Feeding ourselves and keeping our energy up throughout the day should be the priority, not the Industrial Revolution tradition of mealtimes. 

It is time for us to do away with snack shame and embrace the “little treat” culture once and for all.

Editor’s Note: This article uses generative AI at some points. All uses have been clearly identified as such.

OpenAI launched the artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT in November 2022, during my first semester of college.

I am sure many of you are familiar by now, but to give a definition, ChatGPT can be described as an AI chatbot that can create human-like dialogue to questions or inputs using natural language processing. Essentially, you ask it any kind of question and it will answer back. From math problems to dinner recipes.

For example, when asked “What is the Minnesota Daily,” ChatGPT responded with the following:

“The Minnesota Daily is a student-run newspaper based at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. It covers university news, local issues, sports, culture, and more, with contributions from students, faculty, and the wider community. Established in 1900, it is one of the largest student newspapers in the U.S. and has a notable history of award-winning journalism. The Daily provides a platform for students to gain practical experience in journalism, editorial work, and media production, and it publishes both in print and online.”

Not bad, Chat. The only thing is, we don’t have print news anymore.

ChatGPT falls under the umbrella of generative artificial intelligence (AI), which is simply AI that can generate new content.

Compared to when ChatGPT and similar generative AI platforms started to become popularized, the rhetoric surrounding them has drastically changed both at the University of Minnesota and in national publications.

Soon after its emergence, ChatGPT and related technologies were heavily frowned upon in my classes. Professors would spend chunks of lectures lamenting about how the platform was detracting from creativity and learning possibilities, and instead encouraging students to take shortcuts.

To be honest, those are not necessarily arguments I disagree with. Even with this column, I am sure if I were to ask ChatGPT to write 700 words about this topic, it would do a decent job. With a lot fewer punctuation errors.

But as others and I have learned, that isn’t the point.

Slowly, narratives started to shift and adapt and, as students, so did we.

For many first-year students at the University, ChatGPT is openly introduced and welcomed in their classes.

Frances Kastler, a first-year design student, said some of her professors encourage her to use AI for more information.

“In my biology class, there’s been a couple times where we have discussed something in class, and then my professor will tell us to ask ChatGPT too,” Kastler said.

Muniba Tahir, a first-year biology student, said she’s been prompted to use AI resources as a tool to help her create a study guide or brainstorm ideas.

Lila Moua, a first-year entrepreneurship student, said she has even been allowed to use AI to help with in-class exercises and case study problems.

It isn’t just us as students learning to use AI to our benefit, our professors and instructors are too.

The University now has a “Navigating AI” webpage which lays out guidelines for faculty, employees and students on AI usage and what the pros and cons are.

Kiarra Haber, a first-year student, said AI is a good resource.

“I think if you’re looking for a basic answer, it can be good,” Haber said. “But I usually try to look for something more in-depth if I need to.”

You can use ChatGPT to take unnecessary shortcuts, but you can also use it to explain things or generate ideas. It is a place to start, not a place to stay in.

Tahir said the natural language processing element of ChatGPT can make finding answers easier than other options.

“I think it makes finding information more accessible because AI usually learns from experiences with the users,” Tahir said. “ChatGPT can kind of narrow things down for you too, so there aren’t a ton of things on the screen.”

What I am trying to say is, don’t use ChatGPT to cheat.

And if you do, definitely don’t cite this column as justification. There are ways to cheat the system, but really, you are just cheating your learning.

However, it does not all have to be bad. There are ways to use AI platforms ethically and ways to use them that can make learning easier and more accessible for everyone.

Author and futurist H.G. Wells wrote, “Adapt or perish.” Perhaps the sentiment is not completely applicable, but whether you like it or not, the age of artificial intelligence has long arrived.

It is now up to us to figure out how to use it intelligently ourselves.

Although initially rooted in ancient Celtic tradition, modern-day Halloween is about as American as it gets. While commonly celebrated in countries such as Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, none of the international festivities compare to the atmosphere here in the U.S.

We love the scary decorations, costumes and all the sweet treats. But mostly, we love buying them. Even if you aren’t someone who likes to dress up, the candy aisle around this time of year is always calling.

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent a record $12.2 billion on Halloween-related items in 2023. Halloween is the second largest retail holiday in America, with seven out of 10 Americans choosing to celebrate.

Herein lies the question: how did Uncle Sam manage to turn Halloween into something so distinctly American?

To answer, it all circles back to what we as Americans seem to know best — consumerism.

Consumer culture in America began to take off just before the turn of the 20th century, following the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of shopping centers and department stores. Now, people have more than one option of things to buy. Following World War I, consumption increased even more, into the prosperous era of the 1920s.

For the first time, Americans had created disposable income for themselves.

Although the Great Depression stopped this effect for some time, the solution for getting out of this downturn was reasoned and advertised to be injecting more money into the economy. Essentially, buying more stuff. Since then, American market behavior has leaned into this mindset, opting to spend rather than save.

Not so coincidentally, the rise in popularity of Halloween in America coincides with this timeline.

As Irish immigrants began to arrive en masse to the U.S. in the 19th century, they brought the holiday All Saints Day with them. Celebrated on Nov. 1, all Saints Day is a Catholic celebration of all those who have passed on, and the night before, or All Hallows Eve, many celebrate the dead.

With this, American Halloween was born, and with the rise of mass production and consumption, the holiday became mainstream.

Dr. Lauren Kim, assistant professor and researcher in the Retail and Consumer Studies department at the University of Minnesota, explained self-expression is what sets Halloween apart from other consumer holidays.

“It’s moving to more of a larger scale commercial holiday where it’s all about purchasing costumes and making customizations,” Kim said.

There is nothing more American than consumerism, but a close second is wanting to stand out.

Kim went on to say the fear factor surrounding Halloween amplifies this behavior even more.

“There’s an appeal of thrill-seeking,” Kim said. “People like to enjoy the adrenaline that associates with this fear which drives sales around horror-themed events.”

Kim said consumer behavior during Halloween exemplifies hedonism, the philosophy that pleasure is the ultimate motivator for people.

“When people go shopping or consume things, they don’t do it just for practicality sake,” Kim said. “They do it because it’s fun. I think impulsive Halloween shopping decisions could also come from hedonic motivations where you’re looking for items you don’t necessarily need.”

Consumer culture made Halloween popular in America and continues to foster significant social pressure around the holiday today.

Karina Geytsman, a fifth-year student, said Halloween can be just as much about fitting in as standing out.

“People always want to match costumes,” Geytsman said. “People want to do group costumes and stuff like that. So I think it’s also about wanting to participate in something with someone.”

Natalie Segedi, a first-year student, said buying more than one costume for the holiday has almost become the norm.

“I know a lot of people just in general get multiple,” Segedi said. “So I might have to pick up another one just so I can have more options.”

It might not be what comes to mind when you think of American holidays, but with how we celebrate, Halloween exemplifies being a proud American like none other. 

Maybe this is the year you decide to cut back on what you typically buy this time of year. Or not. Either way, make sure you still treat yourself with some Halloween candy. It’s your patriotic duty. 

During the recent vice presidential debate between Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. J.D. Vance, Walz mentioned Minnesota 26 times. 

Walz cited Minnesota as a leader in solar energy production, abortion access, child poverty reduction, housing, water and land protection, innovation, working conditions, and healthcare — all factors that can contribute to a high quality of life. 

Although there was no fact checker at the debate, there is actually quite a lot of data to back Walz’s implications. 

This past summer, Minneapolis was ranked the happiest city in the U.S. by the Institute for Quality of Life, based on metrics of citizens, governance, economy, environment and mobility. 

In 2024, Minnesota was ranked as the sixth happiest state by WalletHub. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy also ranked Minnesota as having the “most equitable” tax system in the U.S. 

For young people specifically, Minneapolis was ranked as the best city in the U.S. for recent college graduates, in a report by Zumper. 

So what is it that makes us so happy? As a lifelong Minnesota resident, I can tell you it isn’t our sports teams or winters. 

Part of it might be the hotdish, but largely, it boils down to our progressivism. 

Progressivism can be broadly defined as movements or policies that seek to advocate for the interests of everyday people, usually through government support. 

Minnesota has historically had a very progressive voting record and currently holds the longest active electoral college streak of voting for Democratic presidential candidates, with it going blue in every single election since 1976. In the 1984 election, it was the only state to not give its electoral votes to Republican President Ronald Reagan. 

Lexi Cornolo, a second-year student at the University of Minnesota and vice president of the UMN College Democrats organization, described Minnesota’s progressive policies as tools that benefit everyone. 

“Our progressivism, to me, is looking out for all aspects of society and all people who run inside of it,” Cornolo said. “Governors like Walz and just any political figures who are progressive, who look into areas that are usually neglected or just overlooked, is really admirable.” 

For Abigail Wick, a third-year student, Minnesota’s post-secondary enrollment option (PSEO) is one example of a progressive policy that makes life easier for Minnesota students and residents.

Minnesota’s PSEO program allows 10th, 11th and 12th grade high school students to enroll in college courses and complete credits tuition-free. The program was first created in 1985 by Minnesota to expand public education opportunities and was later adopted by several other states. 

Wick cited this as a major financial benefit for her, and the reason she can graduate a year early. 

“PSEO for high school students was a really good idea because it allows kids from less privileged areas to get access to education,” Wick said. “Then they’re more likely to finish college because they have less to do and pay for.”

More recently, Minnesota elected a democratic trifecta in 2022, with the reelection of Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and a democratic majority in the State House and Senate. Since then, the Minnesota legislature has passed a slew of progressive policies. 

One of the newer policies is the implementation of universal school meals in Minnesota schools that opt into the program. This program includes free school breakfast and lunch for all students, regardless of free and reduced lunch status. 

Leah Gardner is the policy director for Hunger Solutions Minnesota and one of the leaders of the Hunger-Free Schools campaign that pushed for universal school meals in Minnesota. Gardner said the 2022 state democratic trifecta was a big reason this was possible and passed so efficiently. 

“We ended up with sort of our moment politically, where everyone was bought in,” Gardner said. “We kind of jumped into the deep end and got it done pretty smoothly during the 2023 session.” 

Gardner said this program is important for students and families alike. 

“We’ve surveyed youth and parents with an oversampling of BIPOC families and those experiencing food insecurity and what we know so far is that they have more food at home as a result,” Gardner said. “So not only is it helping kids get through their school day with the nourishment they need, but it’s actually reducing food insecurity overall for those families. For the health benefits and the quality of life, it’s foundational.” 

Gardner said these changes have led to greater attendance and a greater sense of belonging in school.

In the past two years, Minnesota has also been able to encode the state’s abortion rights into law, legalize recreational marijuana, expand worker and union protections by banning noncompete agreements and anti-union captive audience meetings, increase unemployment benefits, and restore voting rights to individuals who were previously incarcerated. 

Progressivism is a term that is often highly politicized and weaponized. In reality, it just boils down to what is best for the general public and what is going to make all of our lives easier. 

Regardless of any political rhetoric, progressive policies have made Minnesota the happiest.